OzSTOC
General Category => Members Health & Wellbeing => Topic started by: StinkyPete on June 23, 2016, 12:11:28 PM
-
Hi all,
My grandniece Imogen has been battling a brain tumor for the last two years. She has endured, brain surgery, a horrible bout of aggressive chemotherapy that left her with one foot in the grave, and a further brain surgery when the cancer returned. The tumor is back again, and treatment options are very limited. One avenue being explored is to send a biopsy of the tumor the the USA where DNA analysis can be undertaken to search for vulnerabilities in the tumor. My niece and her husband, and this vibrant little girl need all the help they can get, and I would encourage you to make a donation via the listed web site towards the $6,000 needed to have the DNA sequencing undertaken.
https://www.youcaring.com/the-blenkinsop-family-589951 (https://www.youcaring.com/the-blenkinsop-family-589951)
In addition to any donation that you can offer, I would ask for your prayers for Imogen, and for wisdom and insight for her medical team.
-
Prayers - Done :thumb
Donation -Done :thumb
Shared on FB - Done :thumb
We can win this fight :rockon
-
Happy to help Pete. We wish Imogen and her family all the best thoughts.
Pockey ;-*
-
:dred11
Pete I hope Immy's fundraising is successful
Donation done and shared on facebook :thumbs
26 June re-shared again on Facebook, I will keep it circulating.. :thumbs
-
A donation sent.
-
Happy to help Pete. our thoughts and prayers are with Imogen and your family. Its a tough time for you all at the moment. Hopefully you get some good answers for Imogen from the biopsy tests.
Sent from my iPad
-
Will donate this afternoon. All the best.
-
Thankyou so much to all those who have generously made donations to help our little Immy. As of this morning, just over half of the needed funds have been raised. Cancer is such an insidious disease, and childhood brain cancers are the cruelest of all. Our hope is that your donations may help to save her, and will add to the body of knowledge which will eventually cure this scourge.
-
Donation made hope everything works out, :Blow :Blow :Blow
-
The $6,000 needed has now been raised, thanks to the generosity of family, friends and strangers who became aware of Immy's need. Thanks to the OzSTOC family for supporting this cause, and your generosity has been bought to the attention of Imogen's family, who are grateful beyond what words can express.
-
:dred11
that's great Pete, I hope Imogen can get the tests done quickly and hopefully lead to successful treatment. :thumbs
-
:clap :thumbs
-
Following a routine MRI scan early last week, Imogen and her family have has some wonderful news today, and I quote from her Dad's Facebook page....
"No evidence of disease...
The MRI scan results are clear. There are no tumours growing, and the surgical site from the last operation is clear.
It's such a relief to hear the words from the surgeon 'it's all clear'. It's indescribable - in a good way.
Her next MRI scan will be in October, and if that remains clear the scans will spread out to every 6 months.
Again- thanks to each of you for your prayers, love and support."
Thankyou again to the OzSTOC family for pitching in, and the DNA profiling of her tumor will occur soon.
-
That's great Pete hope the good news is continuous for the rest of her life. ++ ++ ++ ++ ++
-
Great news Pete :hatwave
-
That is such good news. It must be a great relief to everyone. May the scans remain clear in the future.
-
Great news Pete :like
-
Oh yeah !!! Just the best news for all concerned :runyay
-
++
-
:thumbsup. Great news
-
:hatwave :runyay. AWSOME NEWS
-
Very cool what the Big Fella can do when we ask :thumb Excellent news
-
Here's the latest from Imogen's Dad, for the information of those who kindly and generously donated to the DNA Sequencing Fund.....
Sept 14th
The sequencing is going ahead. Today i signed the authorisation papers, and in the next few days we'll be transferring the funds, which will be just over Aust$6000. The samples will be sent to the US, and the sequencing will then take place.
Dan Thomas - the Professor at Stanford who has made it all happen, wrote this in an email to me today:
'What will we get from these tests? We will have new treatment options if she relapses and perhaps some to help us prevent future relapse - and lots of new information to help hundreds of children with medulloblastomas in the future. This information will be given to Dr Michael Taylor, world expert on Medulloblastoma. This will be the 25th relapsed medulloblastoma ever sequenced.'
Again - thanks so much to those of you who were able to support us financially to raise the funds to enable this to occur. Ill continue to keep you informed each step of the way.
Sept 23rd
The sample has been sent to Stanford Uni, and now we wait to see what results they find through the sequencing. This will take up to a few weeks.
Please pray that as a result of this process they discover something that will help Immy, and be of benefit to other children with this specific cancer.......
.......Thanks again for your support and prayers that the sequencing will give us good results.
-
Good to hear everything is working towards a result :hatwave :hatwave :hatwave.
paul
-
Great news Peter :thumbsup
-
:dred11
thats good to hear the progress Pete, ++
I hope they find a lot of helpful info to help Immy and other sufferers . I'll keep Immy in my thoughts
-
Still praying for her, Mate :wink1
-
Here's the latest information from Imogen's Dad, who this week received some preliminary results on the DNA sequencing. Thanks again to all those who donated to enable this important test to be carried out.
DNA Sequencing results.
Today I was able to speak with Dr Dan Thomas, the Professor overseeing the sequencing at Stanford Uni. He is an Adelaide lad, and is currently back here in Adelaide, and is getting married this Sunday.
We are all catching up in a few weeks time, but over the phone he was able to give me the initial results.
The good news is that the relapse tumour sample doesn't have the amount of gene mutations he would expect to see (around 50), and doesn't seem to have the bad, or rapidly developing mutations he would have expected with this sort of cancer.
This means that a relapse is not certain, and she may well not have any more tumours grow.
The bad news is that from the mutations they can see, there are no non-toxic agents that are currently available that could be used to block the genes if she does have a relapse.
Ill post more details after we meet with him, but it is positive, and encouraging news that there is every reason to be confident that she will remain clear of another relapse.
I know many of you continue to pray with us that she remains in remission!
Imogen has been positive throughout this whole process of diagnosis/surgery/chemo etc etc
Thanks everyone :Blow
-
That's great news Pete. :clap :clap :clap :clap : ++ ++ ++
paul
-
We agree. That is good news for Imogen and for her family. May the news continue to be positive, and she stays positive.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
-
Good to hear Pete :thumbs
-
Great news Pete :thumbs
-
:dred11
Pete thanks for the update,, its sounding really good. I hope that it stays that way for Imogen and she long healthy happy future.. :thumbsup
Must be a relief for you and the family..
-
:clap :clap :clap :clap :thumbsup :thumbs :like
-
Great news! Amazing too, that the Doc connects back to Adelaide- what are the chances of that?
With the rapid advances in medicine, it's possible there will be non-toxic agents available in the future for the specific condition, but we trust they won't be needed.
-
Imogen had another scheduled scan early this week, and here's the results from her Dad. We could not have received better news. :thumb
MRI scan results
The scan is all clear. Both the brain and full spine are clear of tumours still.
We'll wait to hear if the next scan will be in 3 or 6 months time.
Thanks again for your love and prayers. I know how much this good news means to you all as well!
-
That's great news Pete and hoping there will be many happy birtdays for her to look forward to. :Blow :Blow
paul
-
Great news Pete :thumbs
-
Great news Pete.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
-
FANTASTIC news Pete
-
Excellent!
-
Fantastic news. :runyay
:blu13
-
AWESOME :hatwave :runyay
-
Fantastic news.
-
:dred11
Thats great Pete, so glad Imogen is doing so well. I reckon her Dad must be feeling over the moon. :clap
-
:runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay :runyay
-
:clap :clap :clap :clap :thumbsup :thumbs Bonza news Pete
-
Bloody great news.... You rock Imogen :rockon :hatwave
-
Imogen's latest scheduled three month scan shows that there is still no sign of cancer. This is very good news indeed, and it is anticipated that her scheduled scans will now go out six months. :thumbsup
-
Great news, Pete! :hatwave
-
terrific news Pete. :hatwave :hatwave :Chocies :Chocies :Chocies
-
Good news indeed.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
-
That's is wonderful news Pete :thumbs. Imogen and her family are always in our thoughts and prayers. Please pass on our best wishes :hatwave.
-
Very Good :clap
-
Awesome news :hatwave
-
:dred11
That's great news Pete, I hope those results continue and Imogen is able to live a fulfilling life, tumors free. :thumbs
-
Great news..... :runyay :runyay :runyay
-
Fantastic news Pete :runyay for little Imogen to get a result like that gives us all some hope
-
I've known this news for a while now, and it pains me to pass it on tho those who care through your messages, or donations for Immy's DNA sequencing. At her last scan it was found that Imogen's brain cancer has returned, with three or four tumors found in the brain and spine. For the time being she remains symptom free, and treatment options are being considered by the family. Please keep Imogen, her brother Micah, her parents Karen and Adrian and the extended family in your prayers.
-
Sorry to hear this, Imogen is in our thoughts and prayers always.
-
Bugga Pete - Our prayers for Immogen and her family. Stay strong my friend and they will get on top of it again
-
I am sorry to hear this news. I hope that something can be done that will help her get through this
-
Crap news.
As the father of a child who's survived a brain tumour and all associated treatments, and an adult nephew who's just had his third surgery but managed to go further than others with his type of cancer, I fully feel this.
My family is credited with being stubborn and wilful.
Pete has also shown a very stubborn and wilful approach to cancer.
I sincerely hope that Immy has this trait
-
Pete
That's no good mate
We are thinking of you with our prayersyou and family are doing it tough
-
Always sad when children suffer. Here's praying for a cure.
-
Not so good news Pete. We are praying for Imogen and all of the family and for the doctors that they would choose the right treatment for her. This stuff is a roller coaster.
Hope you and Chris are coping ok.
-
Very sad news Pete, heres hoping that they can find a treatment for her . .
-
Not so good news Pete. We are praying for Imogen and all of the family and for the doctors that they would choose the right treatment for her. This stuff is a roller coaster.
Hope you and Chris are coping ok.
We got this news about the same time I was told that my own cancer was gone. Where's the fairness?? My joy is flattened by Immy's bad news.
-
Mate - We all have our own path to lead and we cannot control what will happen to us. Thru your own experience you now have the empathy to help Immogen thru this period for her.
We are here for you if / when you need us.
-
Make sure that Imogen & family use the support services available. Camp Quality has some great programs. Childhood Cancer Association has options including holiday house (& houseboat? being talked about when i was on the board) great for a getaway & respite. But then, knowing WCH, already under control.
-
The family has had massive support ever since she was diagnosed.
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-OtckmxUx8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-OtckmxUx8)
As a cancer survivor and as Immy's uncle, this video made me cry. I understand first hand the dark depths, and the miracle of remission, that cancer treatment can bring. There are angels all around us in the form of family, friends, nurses and dogs who take care of us, both mentally and physically, and give us faith, strength, endurance and hope. God's miracles do happen, and they happen through the work of skilled and wise doctors, researchers and scientists. Please get behind the Biggest Morning Tea, and help raise funds for cancer research. https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/ (https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/) Funds raided will support angels and miracle workers. Amazing progress has been made through cancer research in recent years, but the need remains great.
-
Many of you have supported Imogen through donations for research and DNA profiling of her cancer, through prayer and best wishes, all of which I have passed on to her family. Sadly, the disease that our little Immy has battled since she was six (now almost thirteen) has returned with a vengance. Treatment and management options are limited and it sadens me to advise that she is gravely ill.
Please keep Imogen and her extended family in your prayers.
-
Very sad news Pete. Thinking Of you all.
-
Best wishes from Sue & I... :'(
-
Trying times, Pete. You are all in my thoughts.
-
Sorry to hear this Pete....best wishes to Imogen and family .
-
Very sad to hear..... keeping Imogen and all the family in our thoughts
P&M
-
Pete - Sorry to hear.
Rgds
GB
-
Bugger. My thoughts and hopes are with Imogen.
-
Words cannot express the sorrow that must be being experienced when a patient has a relapse. Here is hoping for further treatment breakthrough.
Out prayers are with you and Imogen and the family :'(
:blu13
-
We are very sorry to hear this news Pete, our thoughts and prayers are with Imogen for the best possible outcome and her family for their strength through this very trying time.
Kind regards Mark & Julie.
-
Very sad to hear of the relapse. Great to read of your support for your family. Trusting for all of you...
-
Sorry to hear this Pete.
Best wishes for you all.
-
It is with great sadness that I advise that Imogen passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning. She had battled with childhood brain cancer since she was six, and endured multiple bouts of surgery, radioterapy and chemo. She exceeded all of the doctors predictions for life expectancy by a huge margin. Imogen became very sick again before Christmas 2019, and wanted to make Christmas, and them wanted to make her birthday in January when she turned 13, for she wanted to become a teenager. The last few months have been difficult for those who love and care for her.
Our little Imogen is now at peace, and her spirit is safe. I want to thank the OzSTOC community for your wonderful support.
-
Rest In Peace Imogen. Condolences to the family.
-
Rest in Peace Imogen.
Condolences to all family & friends
-
Condolences to you & the family, Pete.
Our thoughts are with you at this extremely sad time... :'(
-
Our prayers and condolences to you and all the family.
No more suffering for the brave little girl.
RIP Imogen :'( :'(
ex :blu13
-
Such sad news. RIP Imogen.
-
Our prayers and condolence to you and all her Family
RIP Imogen
-
Condolences to Chris you and the the family Pete
RIP Imogen
-
RIP Imogen
Condolences to you and the family Pete
-
Hi Pete. I am very sorry to hear such devastating news
Rest In Peace Imogen. Condolences to the family.
-
:dred11 :blk13 :Spyder
RIP Imogen.
My condolence to Imogen's family and my sympathy to all who were lucky to have shared in her journey.
My thoughts with you Pete
-
Our condolences Pete to you and all the family, may Imogen be at peace.
-
RIP Imogen and all the best to the family and friends.
Rgds
GB
-
Thoughts and prayers for you and the family Pete.
-
So glad she made the milestones she aimed for. Sorry for your loss.
-
Hi Pete, Our thoughts are with you and family Pete. Denis Diane,
-
Very sad news Pete. Thinking a you and Chris and all of the family. Your memories of her will be very precious.
Her bravery and spitit will always be with you.